McLaren duo all smiles

A laugh and a joke: Button and Hamilton

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Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton were all smiles in Bahrain on Thursday, one day before their battle for Formula One supremacy begins in earnest.

Sat together at the back of the press room at the Sakhir circuit, the McLaren duo laughed and joked their way through a media session in which Ferrari duo Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa and Mercedes GP's Michael Schumacher also took part.

At one stage Massa - who lost the 2008 world title to Hamilton at the very last corner of the last race in Brazil - was asked to stand to one side as photographers clamoured for a picture of the four World Champions who will race this year.

British eyes will, of course, be mainly focused on Button and Hamilton, with many anticipating that their burgeoning friendship is bound to come under strain sooner or later.

Both are aware of such predictions, of course, with Button joking that the display of friendship was "all for show" while Hamilton - who said earlier this week he wants to be the first black James Bond - added: "We're focusing on a potential move to acting in the future."

Competitive season

What promises to be a vintage season starts with two practice sessions on Friday with Button, who succeeded his new team-mate as World Champion, champing at the bit.

"I just can't wait," he said. "It's been a few months since we raced, so I'm looking forward to getting out there and racing. That's what we love.

"Testing is part of the job, but racing is the bit we enjoy, and it's such a competitive season, possibly one of the most exciting we have seen in Formula One.

"Just being a part of that is very special."

Button also said that taking to the track at a grand prix for the first time in car number one would also be a proud moment for him.

"I can only look at that in a positive way, and stepping into the car and seeing the number one on it is a very special feeling," he smiled.

"Especially here in Bahrain at the first race when, just before I put on my helmet and look at the car and see the number one, it's going to be an emotional moment.

"But the moment I step into the car and close my visor, last season is out of the window, and that's when I focus on this year."

Determined

Meanwhile, Hamilton made it clear that, despite Button's quick transition to life at McLaren, he would like nothing better than to take the title back off his new team-mate.

"Jenson has been welcomed into the team and has done a great job, has been very productive and enthusiastic, and has really brought a lot of energy, so I can only see it (his arrival) as a positive," he said.

"From my side, after not such a good year last year, but finishing on quite a high, I feel as determined as ever, if not more so."